Limited ‘Retro WT’-Themed Homecoming Activities Kick Off Oct. 19

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu 

CANYON, Texas — Though the full slate of Homecoming 2020 activities was canceled, West Texas A&M University and its Student Government Association are planning safe ways to celebrate “Retro WT” from Oct. 19 to 24.

School officials announced Sept. 9 that traditional Homecoming activities like the parade and alumni gatherings would not be held due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and uncertainty about football scheduling.

A handful of outdoor or individual activities for students, faculty and staff will go on, though. Social distancing will be enforced with all in-person activities, and masks or face coverings also are required for outdoor events when 6 feet or more of distancing cannot be reliably maintained.

Employees can take part in the Buffalo Chip Hunt, with new clues daily between Oct. 19 and 23 to find a facsimile buffalo chip for prizes. WellWT will host Chalk It Out, a sidewalk chalk art competition, from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 between the cafeteria and Buff Hall. And employees will be encouraged to dress in retro styles and pose in a photo booth for Decade Day on Oct. 23.

Student government will announce its homecoming court Oct. 22 on its Facebook page, and the Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned during halftime of the Oct. 24 football game against Angelo State (schedule subject to change). The WT Family of the Year also will be announced.

Public sales of tickets for the football game will go on sale at noon Oct. 20. The game may be livestreamed over the Lone Star Conference Digital Network. Cost is $10. To purchase a game, go to the football schedule on GoBuffsGo.com and click “Watch.” The pre-game show begins 30 minutes prior to kick-off.  

Student leaders also will sponsor the annual door decorating contest, with students voting on their favorite retro-themed doors between 8 a.m. Oct. 21 and 5 p.m. Oct. 23.

Other student-led activities will include making “Groovy ’70s” tie-dye T-shirts from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 20 in front of the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, and a West Texas Wednesday event from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 20 in front of the JBK Student Center. WT departments will release a list of HOCO Hotspots, where WT students will get discounts or free items Oct. 24.

“Homecoming will definitely look different this year, but it’s still an important way that we can celebrate Buff pride,” said Kylie Scott, student body vice-president.

Homecoming reflects WT’s community values, a key tenet of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. With enrollment of more than 10,000, WT offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 38 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 15 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WTAMU—